Dear counsellor, 

I am in Form Four, I study to my level best, but the results are still not as impressive as I wish. What can I do to become a better student; who scores good grades, and is also knowledgeable in different fields. I need your advice.

Melissa

Achieving high grades in class is every student’s passion for reading. But it may sometimes be frustrating especially if your grades are constantly deteriorating. Remember that poor academic performance can be influenced by a number of factors, including teachers, parents, individual intelligence levels and motivation. 

Understanding the barriers that hamper you from making progress and knowing what you are good at in school is the most fundamental step in exploring your academic competences. Rising above mediocrity is a combination of passion and hard work. So be prepared physically, mentally and emotionally to be willing to learn and perform better. Establish strong lines of communication with teachers and high-achieving classmates to obtain expert advice and assistance to accelerate your understanding of different study concepts and ultimately improve your performance.

The best way to get out of a failure is changing your mindset about the way you perceive learning and begin to appreciate your weaknesses within your underlying skills as potential opportunities to improve your performance.

Attend classes regularly, do all the class assignments and meet due dates. Sit toward the front of the class, take notes and actively get involved in the lessons by asking questions to your teacher wherever you don’t understand.

Studies show that students who sit in the first few rows generally achieve better grades than students who sit toward the back. Train yourself to develop organizational habits that will teach you to be a self-managing and organised student both of which have great contribution on academic performance. While at home, schedule your daily activities and apportion reading special time as well as eat nutritious foods to boost your brain-body connection and drink lots of water to keep hydrated.

Extensive reading has a lot to offer as it exposes you to an exciting body of knowledge that is extremely rich and shared with a wide range of people and tremendous events that take place in all aspects of life. You need to re-orient your ambitions to succeed, excel and outperform yourself. That way, you will be on the way to a journey of greater academic success.

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YOUR DEBATE

Noela Niyonkuru, student

I am glad you are committed to making most out of your academics. However, the most important thing is to know your inner abilities, highlight the fields where you have more potential and those where you don’t do well so that you can seek help in order to excel in both. Look at your talents and find ways you can make the most out of your inner abilities.

Faustine Kwizera, student

Believe in yourself; that’s the key to success. You might be studying hard, yet you have a low self-esteem. Start studying with more courage and commitment, believing that you will reap big out of your academics. Having a high self-esteem will help you study with a goal in mind, and you will start looking at yourself as a winner.

Aliyse Ineza, student

Regarding excelling in academics, you need to add more efforts and follow an organised revision time table. About being knowledgeable in life, as a passionate student, you need to spare time for reading. Set aside time to read every day; make a reading time-table and stick to it. This eventually will improve your passion and interest to read, thus opening your mind to new ideas and information.

Alice Mutoni, student

Being an excellent student requires you to be ambitious, and for that to happen, it requires determination, enthusiasm and hard work. Be focused on your studies. Reflect to determine that what you are studying is in line with what you’re passionate about. Passion is everything in academics; take time to embrace what you’re studying, and make enough time for your studies.

By Dennis Agaba